# Isaiah 42.1

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Isaiah](/codex/isaiah-the-prophet/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> **1. Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.**
>
> 2. He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. 3. A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. (Isaiah 42:1-3, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> **1. “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights, I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.**
>
> 2. He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. 3. He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice. (Isaiah 42:1-3, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> **1. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.**
>
> 2. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. <sup>smoking: or, dimly burning</sup> <sup>quench: Heb. quench it</sup> (Isaiah 42:1-3, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> **1. Lo, My servant, I take hold on him, My chosen one, My soul hath accepted, I have put My Spirit upon him, Judgment to nations he bringeth forth.**
>
> 2. He doth not cry, nor lift up, Nor cause his voice to be heard, in the street. 3. A bruised reed he breaketh not, And dim flax he quencheth not, To truth he bringeth forth judgment. (Isaiah 42:1-3, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Isaiah son of Amoz (traditional unity) + LORD direct discourse
- **Audience:** Judah under Uzziah/Jotham/Ahaz/Hezekiah + exilic remnant
- **Location:** Jerusalem and Judah
- **Time period:** ministry c. 740-680 BC

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [H4941 - mishpat](/codex/h4941-mishpat/), *mishpat* (Strong's H4941). Also appears in: [Leviticus 25](/codex/leviticus-25/), [Numbers 15.15-17](/codex/numbers-15-15-17/), [Deuteronomy 7](/codex/deuteronomy-7/).
- [H5315 - nephesh](/codex/h5315-nephesh/), *nephesh* (Strong's H5315). Also appears in: [Genesis 1.21](/codex/genesis-1-21/), [Genesis 1.24-28](/codex/genesis-1-24-28/), [Genesis 2.7](/codex/genesis-2-7/).
- [H5650 - ebed](/codex/h5650-ebed/), *ebed* (Strong's H5650). Also appears in: [Genesis 9.26](/codex/genesis-9-26/), [Genesis 12](/codex/genesis-12/), [Genesis 18.1-15](/codex/genesis-18-1-15/).
- [H7307 - ruach](/codex/h7307-ruach/), *ruach* (Strong's H7307). Also appears in: [Genesis 1.2](/codex/genesis-1-2/), [Genesis 3.8](/codex/genesis-3-8/), [Genesis 6](/codex/genesis-6/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [Old Testament Christology](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/)

**People:**

- [Isaiah the Prophet](/codex/isaiah-the-prophet/), via [Isaiah 42.1-9](/codex/isaiah-42-1-9/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G2920 - krisis](/codex/g2920-krisis/)
- [H1121 - ben](/codex/h1121-ben/)
- [H4941 - mishpat](/codex/h4941-mishpat/)
- [H5650 - ebed](/codex/h5650-ebed/), via [Isaiah 42.1-4](/codex/isaiah-42-1-4/), [Isaiah 42.1-9](/codex/isaiah-42-1-9/)
- [H7307 - ruach](/codex/h7307-ruach/)

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